The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has commissioned a research study into the revised Leaving Certificate Oral Irish Examination and its impact on candidate performance. While revisions have been introduced across all levels of the examination – Higher, Ordinary, and Foundation, the researchers’ focus was to investigate the impact of these revisions at Higher and Ordinary levels only. This research study comprises two parts: the impact of the revisions on candidate performance in the oral examination, and the impact of the revisions on candidate performance in the written examination. This preliminary report outlines the tentative results of the impact of the revisions on candidate performance in the oral element of the examination only. The research into the impact of revisions on candidate performance in the written element of the examination is ongoing.